Parks around Paris

The Mt. Magazine Scenic Byway includes a 20.4 mile segment of Arkansas State Highway 309 from the Magazine District forest boundary south of Paris to just north of Havana. Situated in the western/central portion of Arkansas on the south side of the Arkansas River Valley, this unique scenic byway leads the visitor across the top of Mt. Magazine, the highest mountain in Arkansas. Mt. Magazine Scenic...

Located in the shadow of Mt. Magazine, Arkansas? highest mountain, Blue Mountain Lake offers many recreational opportunities. Modern campgrounds provide many amenities for land- and water-based outdoor activities. A world-class bird dog field trial area attracts visitors from throughout the United States and other countries. Blue Mountain Lake?s location between two national forests promotes the ...

Ozark Lake extends 36 miles along the Arkansas River. The shoreline of the lake varies from steep bluffs and tree-lined banks to open farm lands and level fields. Many outdoor activities offer excellent recreational opportunities. Nine parks located along the banks of Ozark Lake offer modern amenities such as boat launching ramps, drinking water, camping areas, picnic sites and other facilities f...

The Dry Creek Wilderness now contains a total of 6,310 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the Dry Creek Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...inc...

Located near the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, the picturesque shoreline, excellent fishing and abundant wildlife provide ideal conditions for nature enthusiasts and camera bugs. The river valley is a favorite wintering area for the American bald eagle. Parks offer modern amenities such as boat launching ramps, drinking water, camping areas, picnic sites and other facilities for the conveni...

Why is this spectacular scenic route called the Pig Trail Scenic Byway? Well, for one thing, the meandering nature of the route reminds visitors of a trail carved in the woods from wild pigs. Another factor that influenced the name was that this route has been a major travel way for students, sports fans and other University of Arkansas supporters going to and from Fayetteville, Arkansas, home of ...

John Paul Hammerschmidt Lake extends 26 miles along the Arkansas River, about half in Arkansas and half in Oklahoma. The shoreline offers a variety of terrain that includes bottomland hardwood timber banks, steep bluffs, open agricultural fields, and urban developments. Outdoor recreational opportunities exists at four parks. Modern park amenities include boat launching ramps, drinking water, camp...

Holla Bend NWR, established in 1957, is located 8 miles down river from Dardanelle, Arkansas. The refuge is situated on a bend of the Arkansas River which was cut off when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers straightened the river in 1954 for flood control. Refuge lands include over 7,000 acres of agricultural fields, bottomland forest, and open water.
The refuge's primary purpose is to provide...

The Poteau Mountain Wilderness now contains a total of 11,299 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the Poteau Mountain Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an a...

The Hurricane Creek Wilderness now contains a total of 15,307 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the Hurricane Creek Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an a...

The Upper Buffalo Wilderness now contains a total of 12,018 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1975 the Upper Buffalo Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age o...

From the establishment of the first Fort Smith on December 25, 1817, to the final days of Judge Isaac C. Parker's jurisdiction over Indian Territory in 1896, Fort Smith National Historic Site preserves almost 80 years of history.
Explore life on the edge of Indian Territory through the stories of soldiers, the Trail of Tears, dangerous outlaws, and the brave lawmen who pursued them.

Cradled between the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains, Nimrod Lake is popular with fishermen and hunters alike. Six parks nestled along the lake provide modern camping facilities and an opportunity to relax amid the groves of tall, sweet-scented pines. Nimrod is conveniently located adjacent to State Highway 7, a National Scenic Byway and other nearby points of interest like Petit Jean State Park, Moun...

So Much To Do & SeeThe Ouachita National Forest is located primarily in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma. Outstanding mountain views coupled with picturesque streams, rivers, and lakes provide a unique and highly valued setting for outdoor recreation. The forest offers high quality nature related-sightseeing, scenic driving, hunting, fishing, and dispersed camping. Learn about th...

The East Fork Wilderness now contains a total of 10,688 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the East Fork Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...in...

The Flatside Wilderness now contains a total of 9,507 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the Flatside Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age of "...incre...

The Arkansas River is one of the Mississippi's largest tributaries. It flows 1,450 miles from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, through the Royal Gorge, on through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas to its confluence with the Mississippi River. Four hundred and forty-five miles long with 17 locks and dams, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MCKARNS) is a reliable, year-round waterway...

The Richland Creek Wilderness now contains a total of 11,801 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1984 the Richland Creek Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. In an age...

Lake Ouachita, AR is located on the Ouachita River near the resort spa of Hot Springs. Its crystal-clear waters make the lake a popular site for scuba diving. There are numerous camping, fishing and swimming opportunities at the lake as well as concessions with marinas, motels, restaurants and horseback riding. There is a boating trail for viewing geological formations on the shoreline.

The byway treads its way along forested mountain peaks, providing heart-stirring panoramas among some of the highest points Arkansas has to offer. Visitors can explore trails and tombstones at Pioneer Cemetery or stop at the state line that once delineated between the State of Arkansas and the Choctaw Nation.

The Black Fork Mountain Wilderness now contains a total of 13,139 acres and is managed by the Forest Service. Arkansas contains approximately 8,350 acres. Oklahoma contains approximately 4,789 acres. In 1984 the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and ex...

The Buffalo National River Wilderness now contains a total of 34,933 acres and is managed by the National Park Service. All of the Wilderness is in the state of Arkansas. In 1978 the Buffalo National River Wilderness became part of the now over 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities ...

Robert S. Kerr Lock and Dam is located along the Arkansas River Navigation System.
The lake area is beautiful any time of the year. It is especially scenic when flowering shrubs and leaf buds decorate the landscape with a soft glow in spring, or when the brilliant colors of fall start to unfold. You can see these magnificent changes from one of our many Public Use Area's or from our Short Mountai...

Lake Wister is located in the San Bois Mountains on the Poteau River -- the only river that flows north in Oklahoma. Wister Lake was authorized for flood control and conservation by the Flood Control Act of 1938. The project was designed and built by the Tulsa District Corps of Engineers. Construction began in April 1946, and the project was placed in full flood control operation in December 1949....